CHORLEY'S exciting new bus station looked set to take another step closer this week when it went before the town's planing councillors.

The Lancashire County Council application is for a new transport interchange, including a bus station, cafe, Shopmobility, travel centre and taxi rank on a site off the Clifford Street car park.

The Chorley Interchange will replace the existing bus station, finally creating an integrated public transport network within the town centre which had been envisaged for a number of years .

Chorley Borough Council's development control committee, which met last night, was told that 15 bays would be provided to allow buses to drop off and pick up passengers directly on to the covered concourse.

The development will also include public toilets and baby changing facilities, and bicycle stands and disabled access.

The building will be of modern design and built with large areas of glazing with sections of brickwork, render and aluminium panels.

Buses will access the site from a new position on Chapel Street, leaving from an exit on Clifford Street where a new mini roundabout will be built. The junction of Clifford Street and Chapel Street will be controlled by traffic lights.

However, the Disability Forum has raised concerns relating to the number of car parking spaces allocated for disabled people in relation to the proposed use by Shopmobility customers, the siting of spaces near a corner, the likely conflict with taxi traffic, congestion delaying disabled users and safety risks due to possible confusion between taxis and disabled private drivers.

It is felt more than a minimum of three hatched bays should be designated for specific use by Shopmobility.

In his report to the committee, Alan Croston, the council's head of planning services, welcomed the proposal.

He said: "It conforms with the council's policy to relocate the existing bus station to a more appropriate location to allow connectivity with the railway station and other facilities such as taxis and Shopmobility.

"The design and layout of the building is acceptable and will not harm the character of the adjacent conservation area of the street scene.

"I do not consider that the proposal will harm the existing amenities of residents in the area. I therefore recommend that permission is granted."